News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

Since Aug. 7, residents in and around Petersburg, Va., have been able to participate in an eight-week program titled "Positive and Practical Parenting." The weekly, two-hour sessions are open to parents, grandparents, childcare providers, and anyone else who to learn more about how to be a better parent.

"Information focuses on pre-school children, primary, elementary school-aged children and teens. Certificates are awarded to participants who complete the entire 8-week session... There is no cost to participate."

The program is sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension-Petersburg Office and Petersburg Department of Social Services. Sessions will be held at the Petersburg Department of Social Services Building. Online registration is available at www.ext.vt.edu. Source: The Progress Index (Petersburg, VA)

Labels: advice, classes, parenting_tips

Every Tuesday, parenting author Anthony Wolf answers e-mail questions from concerned, confused, or downright desperate parents. One of recent question came from a parent whose 18-year-old son never finished high school, spends most of his time partying, and has stolen money from her. Should she ask him to move out of her house?

"Getting him to leave is a last resort. If the stealing continues, you need to act. But will kicking him out make him grow up? Will he finally see the light? Don't count on it. One school of thought says forcing children out of the house is for their own good. Maybe. But I'm wary of anyone who predicts that kicking children out is for their best interest. It's for your survival, not their benefit."

The relationship between parent and teenager changes when the child turns 18 and graduates high school. He's considered an adult, which means that his life choices are out of the parent's hands. But rules can and should be set around behavior in the home, and those rules need to be followed. Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)

Turn-About Ranch offers a vocational program as an alternative for troubled teens and students who may struggle with traditional education and also gives students practical life skills. Learn more at http://www.turnaboutranch.com/vocational.html.

Labels: advice, failures, frustration

"It's just a phase." When your child enters adolescence, that's something you'll need to repeat to yourself often. Though it seems like your child suddenly can no longer stand to be in the same room with you, remind yourself that it's just a phase. As best you can, guard your connection with your child and make sure he knows you love him. If talking doesn't work, try hugging.

"A hug shows that, for all the negativity that they dish out on a daily basis, you are able to rise above it. Your love connection to them is so solid through your history together that it transcends everything else."

The hugs don't have to be long (in fact, given the often surly moods of teenagers, they probably shouldn't be) - just enough to let your teen know that you're still here, and still care. Source: The Globe and Mail (UK)

Labels: advice, affection, parenting_styles

The instruction manual parents have been looking for may have finally arrived. At least, that's how Stephanie Ferguson, Adolescence Editor for BellaOnline, feels about a new book by Dr. Sylvia Rimm.

"In her book How to Parent So Children Will Learn: Strategies for Raising Happy, Achieving Children, Dr. Rimm provides practical, no-nonsense advice for addressing both the mundane tasks of living day-to-day as well as deeper issues that we may encounter while raising our progeny."

The book is divided into four chapters, each of which includes a chapter summary, illustrations, sample activities and dialogues, and a frequently asked questions section. Dr. Rimm designed her book with the busy parent in mind, presenting her information in a manner that is simple, straightforward and easily accessible. Source: BellaOnline.

Labels: advice, books, parenting_tips

Tammy Linn is a business woman, mother, and has been married for 26 years. But as her kids begin to enter their teenage years, she thinks her most challenging years are still ahead of her. So she developed some "common-sense" tips to help get her through.

"Choose your battles. It's pretty safe to say that I disagree with many of the things my teen says and does, but if I confronted him on all the issues that are 'just not for me,' our mother-son relationship would be nonexistent."

Linn goes on to suggest that parents stop trying to figure out what their teen is thinking ("it will drive you crazy"), and that they catch their kids doing something "right" for which they can receive recognition and praise. Source: AZ Central

Stone Mountain School offers help with troubled boys. Learn more about their therapeutic boarding school at StoneMountainSchool.com.

Labels: advice, parenting_tips, teenagers

The newest buzz in the parenting world is about "parenting coaches"; counselors who specialize in helping parents be parents. A parenting coach offers support and advice for moms and dads who feel overwhelmed and need an outside perspective.

"Like personalized Dr. Spocks, parent coaches are available for one-hour office visits, lunchtime phone calls, even comforting e-mail exchanges. They offer practical tips on how to get through thumb-sucking, sibling rivalry and other day-today trials. And they make parents feel better about themselves."

While some critics warn that parent coaches can't offer a quick fix, moms and dads like knowing there's someone they can call for help when "because I said so" doesn't work anymore. Source: Miami Herald.

Labels: advice, counseling, parenting_coaches

Parenting is never easy, but parenting teens is especially trying. Making it even more difficult is all of the contradictory advice out there. There are many "myths" about raising teenagers that can make parents feel afraid, nervous, or ineffective.

"MYTH: Raising teens is easy if you do it right. REALITY: If you listen to some so-called parenting experts, raising kids - even teens - is a walk in the park. The reality is that parenting is a labor-intensive task. In order to raise kids and teach moral character, you have to go against the prevailing culture."

Family therapist Jeff Herring dispels three other myths common to parenting, including the myth that "your teen years were just like those of your teenager." Read more at ParentingIdeas.org.

Labels: advice, myths, parenting tips

Richard Dudum is a father of four. Three of his kids are teenagers, and two of those are girls. He has a unique ability to communicate with teens, and he uses that ability in his newest book "What Your Mother Never Told You – A Survival Guide for Teenage Girls".

"The father of four children... also believes that 'most of the negative messages coming from the media, the Internet and popular culture are directed primarily at girls,' especially in music videos and reality television. The book addresses a wide variety of problems that teen girls face... "

Dudum's blunt, straight-forward book has just hit #1 in Amazon's Parenting-Teenagers category, just three short months after its release.

Girls Boarding Schools, like Copper Canyon Academy, offer smaller classes and teaching styles geared towards the way girls learn. Visit CopperCanyonAcademy.com to learn more about their girls boarding school.

Labels: advice, books, role_models

Most parents turn to "the experts" for advice on raising their kids. There is certainly a lot of information out there, much of it is excellent. But Mary Haupt of the Press & Sun Bulletin reminds parents that their instincts are often the best guide.

"Some of what made raising teenagers so challenging was my lack of confidence in my own judgment. Put another way, I shoulda trusted my gut... I lost sight of the fact that I knew my children better than any best-selling expert did."

The parent of a teen has lived with that child for over a decade, and has been the primary influence in shaping and molding that child's character. Though there are times when expert advice is helpful - or even necessary - when parenting a teenager, in most instances, a parent knows their child well enough to know what's right and what's best.

Boarding Schools Info offers the latest news for parents looking for a boarding school or private school for their child.

Labels: advice, confidence, parenting_tips

Survival guide handbooks have become very popular over the last few years. But Mark Patinkin, from the Providence Journal in Rhode Island, has noticed that we're still missing the most important survival handbook of all - How to Survive Teenagers. So he offers some good-humored tips of his own.

"Put Dominoes Pizza on speed-dial, and if you don't live within two blocks of a Subway, sell your house and move. Keep in mind that it means nothing if teenagers go out for a meatball sub at 4 p.m.; they will still want dinner at 6. I recommend buying frozen hot-pockets and chip bags large enough to feed livestock..."

He also suggests having cell phone numbers for your teen's friends (which he refers to as "the swarm") as it will be easier to track down your teen when you need him.

Surviving teen drug and alcohol abuse is no laughing matter. Learn how you can and your family can get through difficult times like these at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: advice, parenting_tips, support

Meredith Corporation, publisher of magazines like "Better Homes and Gardens" and "Family Circle" is launching a broadband network called Parents.tv. Designed to appeal to Gen-X and Gen-Y parents, it will feature video clips ranging in length from two to thirty minutes.

"Parents.tv will cull content from Meredith's 'Parents', 'American Baby', 'Family Circle' and 'Child' titles, focusing on subjects ranging from pregnancy to raising older teens. The site will feature community tools, branded content, resources and e-commerce..."

The companion video site, Better.tv will feature topics like fitness, child health, and fashion. Read more online.

Labels: advice, parenting_tips, resources

Psychologist and therapist Michael Bradley has authored a book called 'Yes, Your Teen is Crazy! Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind'. But is it true? Are teens really crazy? Many people don't think so.

"Bradley's thesis is interesting (is not original), and he manages to give reasonably practical advice within what is, overall, an entertaining read. But the exceptions disprove Bradley's rule. Let's face it: A significant number of teenagers don't act like they have loose screws rattling around inside their craniums."

In the mid-1800s, teens were described as hard-working and community-minded. Columnist John Rosemond suggests that the change in teens may reflect a change in parenting. Read more online.

Labels: advice, behavior, parenting books